picard



i 2 Sheets-Sheet 1,

( 0 Model.)

v A. PIGARD Patented Peb..7, 1882.

M R A E R I F G N I D A 0 L H G E E R B INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

2 sheets-sheet (No Model.)

A. PIGARD,

BREEGH LOADING FIRE ARM.

No. 253,422. Patented Feb. 7,1882.

INVENTOR J yum 0 WITNESSES m 6? PWM ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDBE PIGARD, OF MONTAIGN, FRANCE.

BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 253,422, dated February 7, 1882. Application filed March 16, 1880. (No model.) Patented in France February 3, 1879.

To altwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDRE PIcAnD, of Montaign, J ura, France, have invented Improvements in Breech-Loadin gFire-Arms; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being bad to the annexed sheets of drawings, making-a part of the same.

My invention relates to that class of fire-arms in-which the bore is closed when the cartridge is in the barrel by means of a block or rocking block which is brought in position before the explosion of the cartridge.

My improvements consist chiefly, first, intheimproved construction of the rocking block, which is made in one piece with the hammer, the said block working automatically in its downward movement, and the extractors being placed on both sides of the frame.

In accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is partly a side view and partly a longitudinal section of the breech and lock portion of my improved gun, the combined breech-block and hammer being shown thrown back ready for firing. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal central section of the lock and breech, the combined breech-block andhammer being shown closed. Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6 are detail views of partsdetached. Figs. 7, 8, 9 are detail views.

A is the breech of the gun, having a rear cxtension, a, provided with a lengthwise slot, in which is placed the rocking block B, which in its movement rotates on a rib, a. The rocking block B (shown detached in Fig. has plates b attached to its central part, which plates have V-shaped projections b at the front end. The objectof these projections is to work the extractors u, as will be hereinafter described. Said plates 1) can be easily removed when the projections I) are worn. The rocking block B has upon its upper face a recess, which allows the cartridge to pass into the barrel. In this recess is fitted a small plate, d, Fig. 2, mounted upon a pivot-pin, d. The free forward 'end of plate d is pressed upward by a spring, e, placed in a recess beneath it, and by this means the end of the plate 01 is caused to project somewhat above the upper face of the block B, thus preventing the cartridge placed in the barrel from dropping back when the breech is open.

A lever, f, is formed solid with the block B, and the latter has in its rear extremity a hole that receives a screw, 9, on which the sear or catch h is pivoted. A spring, 1', forces the front end of the catch h downward, and the rear end has a hook, h, which is adapted to engage a corresponding hook, j, in the end a of the breech A.

The contact portion or surface of the hook j is formed of a plate that can be easily removed and changed when worn.

The conical hammer l is made in one piece with the block B, so that if the block is suddenly pushed upward the hammer will strike the cartridge through a hole made in the barrel and thereby explode it.

In order to give the block B and its hammer lthe required sudden movement,I employ a forked spring, at, Fig. 7, whose free ends rest on pins m, projecting from both sides of the block B. The spring a is fixed below the barrel by means of a hand-screw, n, Fig. 1. By this means, when the mechanism is in the firing position, Fig. 2, if the trigger 0 is pressed upward the head of the said trigger forces the book of the'catch h out of the hook j of the breech, and the block B is thrown suddenly upward by the action of the spring a, so that the cartridge is struck by the hammer l, as above mentioned, and exploded.

The guard-plate p is provided with two rectangular slo'ts, q and r,thelarger one, q, for the lever f, and the smaller one for the trigger 0. The plate p is clamped in place by means of hand-screws s ands, Fig. 1, passing through the stock of the gun and screwing into the breech A. l In order to avoid any vibration, the ends of the plate are bent downward, so that when in position the plate may act as a spring, preslscing and holding the gun firmly upon itsstoc t.

The curved arms of hand-screws s 8 protect vided with a concavity, u, in its inner face, which concavity corresponds to the'bore of the barrel. The extractors are loosely mounted upon screws passing transversely through them, and their lower ends, a are provided with projections, as shown. In the downward motion of the bloekB the projections b made thereon, will press upon the lower toes, u of the extractors u, and, tilting them, force their upper parts to project outward, as shown in Fig. 1, thus drawing and throwing the shell out of the gun. The extractors are put in motion only when thebarrel is open; and, besides, in order to give them a more effective action, a sudden motion is imparted to lever f, causing the block B to swing down farther than shown in Fig. 1. After the projection of the shell out of the gun the spring i of the tumbler brings again the block B into the firing position, Fig. 1.

I propose to use with this gun a bayonetsword having saw-teeth on its back. It is fixed on the end of the barrel by means of two shoulders and a spring in the hilt.

What I claim as new is- In a breech-loadin g gun,'tbe combination of the rocking spring-actuated block B, having a hammer or piercing-point, 1,1nadein one piece and provided with lever-arm f, the catch or sear h, pivoted to the rear portion of the breechblock, a fixed claw orshoulder y', on the breech piece, and the barrel having a hole in its under side to receive the hammer-point, as shown and described.

ALEXANDRE PIOARD.

Witnesses:

GEO. H. ScIDMoRn, EUGENE Hltnnn'r. 

